Method of removing water soluble organics from oil process water

Abstract

Oil well production fluid composed of oil and water and containing in excess of 100 ppm water soluble petroleum carboxylates in anionic form dissolved in the water is treated by acidifying the fluid to a pH of 6.0 or lower with a strong acid and then is intimately mixed. The oil and water are separated one from the other. The content of the water soluble organics in the water is thereby substantially transferred to the oil phase. In a second aspect of the invention, water used to extract corrosion compounds to render the oil suitable for fueling gas turbine power plants is acidified to a pH of 6.0 or lower and is thereafter intimately mixed with fuel oil.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of removing water soluble organics from oil process water comprising the steps of: (a) incorporating in the said water a strong acid to adjust the pH of the water to within the range of about 2-6;   (b) thereafter or simultaneously making intimate contact between the acidified water and oil with the result that the content of water soluble organics in the water is substantially reduced by being transferred from the water to the oil; and   (c) separating the oil and the water.   
     
     
       2. The method of claim 1 wherein the acid is a strong mineral acid. 
     
     
       3. The method of claim 2 wherein the pH is within the range of 3-6. 
     
     
       4. The method of claim 2 wherein the strong mineral acid is hydrochloric acid. 
     
     
       5. The method of claim 2 wherein the strong mineral acid is sulfuric acid. 
     
     
       6. The method of claim 1 wherein the water soluble organics include petroleum carboxylate anions. 
     
     
       7. The method of claim 1 wherein the water is the water removed from an oil well along with the crude oil. 
     
     
       8. The method of claim 7 wherein the pH is in the range of 3-6. 
     
     
       9. The method of claim 7 wherein the acid is hydrochloric acid. 
     
     
       10. The method of claim 7 wherein the acid is sulfuric acid. 
     
     
       11. The method of claim 1 wherein the water is the water used to extract corrosive inorganic compounds from fuel oil to render the fuel oil suitable for fueling gas turbine power plants. 
     
     
       12. The method of claim 11 wherein the pH is in the range of 3-6. 
     
     
       13. The method of claim 8 wherein the acid is hydrochloric acid. 
     
     
       14. The method of claim 8 wherein the acid is sulfuric acid. 
     
     
       15. A method of removing water soluble petroleum carboxylates in anionic form from water accompanying the removal of crude oil withdrawn from an oil well comprising the steps of: (a) separating the oil from the water;   (b) adding a strong mineral acid to the water in a sufficient amount to reduce the pH of the water to within the range of 2-6;   (c) intimately contacting the thus acidified water with oil with the result that the content of the water soluble organics in the water is substantially reduced by being transferred from the water to the oil; and   (d) thereafter separating the oil from the acidified water.   
     
     
       16. The process of claim 15 wherein a chemical demulsifier is used in separating the oil from the water. 
     
     
       17. The process of claim 15 wherein the steps are carried out in a continuous fashion. 
     
     
       18. A method of removing water soluble petroleum carboxylates in anionic form from oil wash water comprising the steps of: (a) adding a strong mineral acid to the water in a sufficient amount to the reduce the pH to within the range of about 2-6;   (b) intimately contacting thus-acidified water with oil with the result that the content of the water soluble organics in the water is substantially reduced by being transferred from the water to the oil; and   (c) thereafter separating the oil from the acidified water.   
     
     
       19. The process of claim 19 wherein a chemical demulsifier is used in separating the oil from the water. 
     
     
       20. The process of claim 19 wherein the steps are carried out in a continuous fashion.